Water-filter.



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No. 791,213. PATENTED MAY 3o, 1905.

G. V. ROBERTS.

WATER FILTERl t APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 2e, 1903.'

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VEN TUR ATTRNEY.

No. 791,213. RATENTEE MAY so, 1905.

. y l E. V. RoEERTs.

WATER PIETER.

APPLICATION II'LBD JUNE 26, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Patented Mey s, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

if CHARLES v. ROBERTS, E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-FILTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part ef Lettere Patent No. 791,213, dated Mey 3o, 1905.`

Appiieetiee filed June 26, 1903. semi No. 163.155.

Tartu whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES V. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofthe city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsyl- 5 vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filters, of which the following is a full, clear, and complete disclosure.

ed vfor use in dwelling-houses and other buildings and which require to beA cleaned froml time to time owing to the accumulation of sediment and other impurities from the water.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a filter which can be more effectively cleaned than heretofore possible and which possesses certain advantages of construction zo and arrangement of parts to be more fully and at length described, and the -novel features thereof pointed out in the appended claims. n

For a full, clear, and exact description of z 5 my invention reference may be had to` the following specification and to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 shows an elevation ofmy improved filter with said parts thereof broken away; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; and Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional view of one of the cups for preventing the filtering material from passing out of the bottom of the 354 filter; Fig. 4, a bottom plan view of said cu Fig. 5, a plan view of amodified form of' 'lter; Fi 6, an Velevation of the upper portion thereo and. Fig. 7 a vertical central sectional view of the upper portion of the filter -4o shown in Figs: 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a casing, 4preferably cylindrical in form, which has attached to its upper and lower edges heads or plates 2 and 3. The

upper head 2 has attached to its inner surface transverse plates 4, which are here shown as being two in number, but the number ofplates may be varied to suit requirements, according to the size of the filter used 5o and the' flow of water available. These 1 Broadly, my invention relates to those' v1o types of filters which are particularly adaptplates 4 extend downwardly from the head 2 into the interior of the cylindrical casing 1 for about a third of the height of the saidcasing toa point at or adjacent the surface of the filtering material, but preferably the lower ends of said plates 4 enter the filtering material for such a distance as to be completely buried in the same for a portion of their length, as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1.

Approximately at the centers ofthe divisionsof the head 2, formed by the plates 4, are attached pipes 5, 6, and 7, which are adapted to serve as inlet or outlet pipes, according to whether the filter is being used for filtering purposes or is being cleaned. The pipes 5, 6, and 7 are provided with valves 8, 9, and 10, respectively, and after passing these valves said pipes unite into a common main 11 which leads to a universal controlling-valve 12. This controlling-valve 12 hasY connected to it the water-supply pipe 13 and an outletL or delivery pipe 14, which supplies the water to the points wherey -it is to be used. A pipe 15 is also connected to said valve 12 and is adapted to carry off the waste water when the filter is lbeing cleaned, but at other times is not in use. A.y pipe 17 also leads from the lower part of the` valve 12 and enters the head 3 of the cylindrical casing, as indicated at 18. The valve 12 is so constructed that water may bemade to iiow from the pipe 13 to the pipe 11 and through the pipes 5, 6, and 7 into the filter,` while at the same time the water flows out through the head Sinto the pipe 17 and into the outlet ordelivery pipe 14, from which itv is supplied tothe differentp'arts of the house or otherbuilding. This is the normal-working condition for filtering purposes.

- Connected with the lower head 3 is a secondary head or diaphragm 19, which has openings 20 therein over its entire area to permit the passage of the water, which are provided with means for preventing the filtering material from escaping. For the purpose of preventingv the filtering material rom passing through these openings I provide the construction particularly show'n in Figs. 3 and 4 in detail. The secondary head roo 19 is provided with a series of inverted-frustum-shaped receptacles or sockets 21, which are open at their'topsor larger. ends and at their lower or smaller ends are providedwith openings, which form a slotted or notched web, as indicated at 22. A T-headed bolt 23 is adapted to be retainedl in the slot of the web, so as to be capable of removal when the parts are disassembled. Said T-headed bolt carries nuts 24 and 25, which are adapted to retain two hemispherical cups 26 and 27 in osition. The edges of these cups 26 and 27 t into grooves 28 and 29, which are provided, respectively, therefor adjacent the ends of the inclined portion of the sockets 21. Packing-rings 30 and 31 may be employed to give the ed es of the cups 26 and 27 a good contact wit in the grooves 28 and 29. The upper or larger cup 27 is preferably con structed as shown, being foraminous or providedfor a part of its surface with small holes 32,.while the portion adjacent the base of the cup-is providedwith narrow slots 33, the purpose ofi which will be more Jfully described. The cup 26 is preferably merely provided withsmallholes but lmay alsouse the slots in this` cup-should the same be deemed. ad.- vantageous. The space between the inclined sides of thesocket 21 and the interior of the cup 26 is filled with coarse gravel of such a size that it will not pass through the openings in' the cup and yet will be capable o preventing the filtering-sand from passing through said cups-and socket.

In the up er part of the filter-chambers l provide bafiIie-plates 36, which are located below the end of the pipes 5, 6, and 7, so as to distribute the water fiowing in either direction during the filtering and cleaning operations. These bafile-plates are attached to lugs 37, carried upon the interior of the filtering-chamber, and engage lugs 3S, carried by said baffle-plates, to which they are secured.

by screws 39. The battle-plates 36 are provided with holes 40, which are distributed over the surface of said plates in such a manner as to regulate the flow of the water through the surface of the sand, so as to concentrate said flow more or less at the walls of the compartment formed by the plates 4. This regulation of the flow is rendered desirable f'rom the fact that the water in flowing through the sand takes the shortest path from the inlet to the outlet, and to make this iow even and uniform throughout the whole body of the sand the baffle-plates are reuired'.,

In the form shown in Fig. 5 l have provided only two compartments within the filterchamber, which are separated by the plate 42. Iv have also provided corresponding pipes 43 and44, which are connected with the pipe 11 'from the main controlling-valve 12 by means of a three-way valve 45. This valve 45 takes the place of the single valves S, Q, and 1() in the construction where three or more com partments are provided in the upper part of the filterchamber. In this form l also provide bafiie-plates 46, which are attached to the interior of the chambers in the same way. In operation the valve 4 5 maybe made to cause the pi )e 11 to communicate with either or both oi the pipes 43 and 44 or may be made to shut off all communication with said pipes. ln the filtering o eration the water is made to enter the filter-c iamber through both pipes 43 and 44, while during the cleaning operation the water is made to flow in the reverse direction successively through one of said pipes and then the other.

The form of the filter illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6 is of course also provided with-the lower head 3, secondary head or diaphragm 19 having the sockets and cups for retaining the gravel inthe openings 20.

A tank' 35 for su plying alum in solution to the water-feed pipe 13 may be used when extra means is required for settlingthe water.

The normal working conditions of my device have already been described; but in ad dition it may be stated that the water passes downwardly through the cups and sockets just described without carrying with it any of the filtering-sand and without retarding the flow of water to any great extent because of the coarse gravel and loraminous partitions.

One of the principal advantages of my improved filter resides in the manner in which the same may be cleaned. This is accomplished by turning the handle of the valve 12 into such a position that the direction of the water in passing through the cylindrical easingT 1 will be reversed in its flow and instead of passing out through the outlet-pipe 14 will pass out through the waste-pipe 15. At the same time any twoiof the valves 8,1), and 10 may be closed, thereby confining the passage, of the water from the lter-chamber to any one of the pipes 5, 6, or 7.

It will be su )posed that the valves 9 and 10 have been closed and thatthe passage of the water from the filter-chamber is confined to the pipe 5. The water then enters from the supplypipe 1 3, passing through the valve 12 to the pipe 17, from which it passes into the space below the secondary head 19 and thence into the filter-chamber. ln passing into the filter-chamber the water is divided into jets by the holes 32 in the upper art of the hemispherical cups 27 but the s ots 33 divide the water into elongated streams or jets which have a very ef'licient knife-edge or cutting action upon the particles of' filtering material immediately adjacent, and thereby thoroughly stirs u and separates said particles, so that the fi tering material is more or less loosened throughout its entire body. lt is obvious that the openings in said cups may consist entirely of elongated slots similar to IOO IIO

thoseV shown at 33. In its passage through thefilter-.ehamberlthe Water convergesin'its fiowvtoward one compartment formedbythe partition orplate 4: and into .Which 1 the;pipe` 5 passes. It Will thus be seen that'the entire flow ofithewwaterisconcentratedtowardsaid treatedinithis manner byfsuecessively'closingffrom the spirit and scope ofmyinvention. s

ingvdifferent :pairs of .the valves "8, .9, and -10 the valve 12is-softurned asto allowthe'water to passithroughathefilteriin thenormal direction, but instead of goingthrough Athe supply-pipe 14;.to vthe .points Aof consumption is allowedlto run to -Wastethrough the vpipe '15, thus Kpermitting 2the 'filter to become. settled and to berput into-goodworkingl orderrbefore the 'Water is -turned :into 'the :house-mains. rlfhe ihandle of thevalve 12 is then :turned intoiitsnormal Aposition,-softhat thewater. a'fter leaving the filter passes throughithe/pipe 1'4Linstead o'ffthefpipe 115, thusleavinglthe'apparatu's in itssnormal condition for use. The valve 12=may alsof-be manipulatedtofcut out the ifilter zand rturn the unfiltered -Water directlydntofthelhouse-mains or the Water-su ply maybe entirely cut offboth from the fil- The features of construction ofthe valve `12 foraccomplis'hing these operations: and connectionsiby a simpleturning =of the valve-handle -into different .positionssuccessively `I do not claim in thisapplication, as thesame is the subject of aseparatevapplication, Serial No. 163,156; 'nor is the-fparticularuse of thisform of valve 12 essential in this device, as any form and arrangement of valve or valves may beused which Will-control the fioW-ofzwater in the right directions and at the righttime.

`ltdsobyiousthat myimproved filtermav be used in connection With other fluids beside-Water `Wherever it isidesired to cleanse thefilteringmaterial from time to time Without removing the same from the filter.

l do not Wish to be limited'to the exact details of form'andarrangement of parts herein setforth,for changes may be madel and differentfequivalen'tsmay'be used Without departilido-notwis'hfto belimited toexactformpf the compartments'for dividin T the upperportions vof the filtering materia into sections,

for the same mayf'be made circular, rectangular,for -sector-shapeto the same effect and'for the production ofthe. samefunctions.

f Havinglthus described my nivention,what liclaimfand desireito protect by Letters Patent of the United States, ais- -r1. .A filter, comprising .a filter-chamber, means for conducting fluid .to and yfrom said filterchamber, filtering material in `said chamberandmeansfor confining the flow of fluid through' definite -segregated portionsV of the upper portion of said filtering material butl at .the same .time allowing vthe fiuid to pass-through substantiallythe entirebody of saidrfilteringmaterial. l

2. IA alter, lcomprising Ia l,filter-chamber, means'for conductingfiuid toand from said filter a chamber, filtering material in said chamber, .means .for admitting 4fluid over substantially the entirebottom of -said cham'- berandfmeans foraconfiningthe flow offluid through definite segregated portions of the surface of saidfiltering material.

3. A filter, comprising a filter-chamber, means for conductinglfiuid to and from said chamber, lfiltering material in saidchamber, a seriesof openings over-substantially the Wholeiof the bottom=of said chamber and meansffor confining the flow oftfluid-through definite segregated portions of the surfacek of saidffilt'ering material.

4. A filter, comprising a filter-chamber, means fforconductlng the fluid to and from said 'filter-chamber, lfiltering :material lin said chamber, means 'for admitting 'fluid -over substantiallythe entire bottom ofsaid chamber-and compartments yin the vupper'part of saidl chamber the dividing-Walls of which eXe tend to thesurface ofthefltering material in the filter-chamber.

'5. :A `filter, comprising 'a filter-chamber, means'for conducting fluid4 toandfrom said filter-chamber, filtering material in said chamber, means for ladmitting fluid over substantially the entire bottom of said-chamber and compartments in the upper part of said chamber the dividing-Wallsofwhich eX- tend downwardly from the toplof said chamber-toa point adjacent the surface of the fili tering material in the filter-chamber.

6. yA filter, comprising a filter-chamber, meansfor conducting-fiuid-to and 'from said chamber, filtering material in said chamber, means for admitting fiuid over substantially the entire bottom-of saidchamber and compartments the dividing-Walls of Vwhich eX- tend forl a short distance belowthe surface of the filter material in the filtering-chamber.

7. A filter, comprising affilter-chamber, filtering material xin said chamber, openings covering substantially the entire bottom of said chamber, 'means for conducting :fiuid through said openings, compartments the dividing-Walls of which `extend ffor ,a short distance below the surface of the filtering material and means for conducting fluid away from any one of said compartments.

8. A filter, comprising a filter-chamber, filtering material in said chamber, a series of openings over the entire bottom of said chamber, vertical dividing-walls extending from the top of said chamber to points a short distance below the surface of the filtering material and valved pipes connected with each of the compartments formed by said dividingwalls.

9. A filter comprising a filter-chamber, filtering material in said chamber, a series of openings over the entire bottom of said chamber, means in connection with said openings for preventing the filtering material from passing therethrough, means for supplying Huid to said openings, vertical dividing-walls extending from the top of said chamber to a point a short distance below the surface of the filtering material, a pipe having valved branches connecting with each of the compartments formed by the dividing-walls.

10. A filter comprising a filter-chamber, filtering material in said chamber, a series of openings over the entire bottom of said chamber, means in connection with said openings for preventing the filtering material from passing therethrough, a pipe for supplying fluid to said openings or for withdrawing water therefrom, vertical dividing-walls extending from the to'p of said chamber to a point a short distance below the surface of the filtering material, a pipe having valved branches connecting with each of the compartments formed by the dividing-walls and a main valve communicating with both of the above-named pipes for passing fluid therethrough in either direction.

11. A filter comprising a filter-chamber, ltering material in said chamber, a series of openings over` the entire bottom of said chamber, means in connection with said openings for preventing the filtering material from passing therethrough, a pipe for supplying fluid to said openings or for withdrawing fluid therefrom, vertical dividing-walls extending from the top of said chamber to a point a short distance below the surface of the filtering material, a pipe having valved branches connecting with each of the compartments formed by the dividing-walls, a main valve communicating with both of the above-named pipes for passing fluid therethrough in either direction, a fluid-supply pipe, a pure-fluid-delivery pipe and a wastepipe, said last-named three pipes being also connected to said main valve.

12. ln a filter, means for allowing the passage of fluid, but preventing the passage of filtering material, comprising a plate having depressed open-ended sockets therein, arching covers for said sockets, having -openings of small dimensions therein, means for retaining granular material within said sockets, and a single fastening device passing through said cover and said last-named means, for holding the same in position, in relation to said sockets.

13. In a filter, means for allowing the passage of Huid, but preventing the passage of filtering material, comprising open-ended sockets, arched foraminous covers for said sockets, foraminous )artitions for preventing granular material from passing through the openings in said sockets, said plates and sockets having grooves to receive t ic edges of said covers and said partitions, and a single fastening device passing through said parts, and engaging said sockets for holding said parts in position.

14. ln a filter, means for allowing the passage of fluid, but for preventing the passage of filtering material comprising depressed open-ended sockets, means for preventing the granular material from passing through the openings in said sockets, and an arched cover for said sockets having slits or elongated openings therein.

15. ln a filter, means for allowing the passage of fluid but preventing the passage of filtering material comprising an o )en-ended socket, a foraminous arched cover also having slits or elongated openings therein, an. arched foraminous partition for preventing the granular material from passing through the opening in said socket.

16. ln a filter, means for allowing the passage of fluid but for preventing the passage of filtering material, comprising open-ended sockets, an arched foraminous cover for said socket having slits or elongated openings therein, an arched foraminous partition for preventing the granular material from passmg through the opening in said sockets, a web having a slot therein located in said opening, and a T-bolt removably held in said slot for holding said cover and partition. in position.

17. A filter consisting of a casing having a vertical partition extending across its up )er portion and containing filtering material, a supply-pipe having branches of which one enters the upper part of the casing on each side of the partition, and a delivery-pipe con,- nected to the bottom of the casing, substantially as described.

18. A filter-casing having a partition extending across its lower portion, said partition being provided with a series of openings of which each is surrounded by an annular groove, a perforated cover of curved material for each opening having its edges extending into said groove and formed convex with the partition, with means for holding the cover in position, said casing containing filtering material, and being )rovided with openings for the entrance an exit of fluid treated, substantially as described.

roo

IOS

IIO

19. In a filter, the combination of a casing, containing iiltering material, a partition extending vertically across the upper ortion of the casing, a substantiallyhorizonta partition extending across the lower portion and provided with an opening or a series of openings for the passage of liquid and a system of piping connected to a source of supply and to a distributing system, with connections from said piping into the upper portion of the casing on each side ofthe vertical partition and a connection entering the iilter-'casin below the horizontal partition, with valves or controlling the flow of fluid, substantially as described.

20. The combination of a filter-casing having a vertical partition dividing its upper portion into two separate chambers, a horizontal partition extending across the lower portion of the casing, a pipe connected to a source of water-supply and having branches entering the upper part of the casing on both sides of the vertical artition, and a delivery-pipe connected to tlie space below the horizontal partition, said horizontal partition having openings through it and being constructed to su port a body of filtering material, substantia ly as described.

21. The combination of a filter-casing having a vertical partition dividing its upper portion into two separate chambers, a horizontal partition extending across the lower portion ofthe casing, a pipe connected to a source of supply and having branches entering the upper part of the casing on both sides of the vertical partition, and a delivery-pipe connected to the space below the horizontal partition, said horizontal partition havingopenings through it and being constructed to support a body of filtering material, and a pipe extending between the supplyipe and the delivery-pipe with a valve 1n sai connectingpipe, substantially as described.

22. A lter-casing having a vertical partition extending across its upper part, ltering material in the casin a pipe connected to a source of water-supp y having branches entering the casing on each side of said partition, a delivery-pipe entering the bottom of the casing, a pipe extending between the supply-pipe and the delivery-pipe and a second pipe in connection with the two branch pipes and connected to the delivery-pipev and to a waste-pipe, with valves for controlling the flow of fluid through said pipes, substantially as described.

23. A lilter-casing having a vertical partition extending across its upper part, ltering material in the casing a pipe connected to a source of supply having branches entering the casing on both sides of the partition, a delivery-pipe connection to the bottom of the casing, a pipe extending between the supplypipe and the delivery-pipe, a pipe connecting the delivery-pipe with a Waste-pipe, a valve in each of the branch pipes, a valve in the ipe connecting the supply-pipe with the deiVery-ppe, and a valve in the delivery-pipe, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of June, A. D. 1903.

CHARLES V. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

LEWIs II. VAN DUsEN, EDw. W. VAILL, Jr. 

